Ghana is in mourning following the deaths of two cabinet ministers in a tragic military helicopter crash in the central Ashanti region on Thursday.
The crash claimed the lives of Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment, Science and Technology Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, along with six others, according to a government spokesperson.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, speaking at a press conference in Accra, described the incident as a “national tragedy” and announced that the country’s flags would fly at half-mast in honour of the deceased.
The Ghana Armed Forces earlier reported that the aircraft, which was carrying three crew members and five passengers, had gone “off the radar” shortly after departing the capital, Accra, at 09:12 GMT. It was en route to the gold-mining town of Obuasi for a national engagement when it crashed.
Debrah extended condolences on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the government, especially to “the servicemen who died in service to the country.”
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash.